Mowing-machine.



Nb. 744,141. -PATVY'ENTED Nqv; 17, 1903.

, W. N. WHITELY.

MOWING MACHINE;

I APPLIUATION FILED AUG.. 30, 1902.

NO 1101121,. 4 sums-sum?! 1.

TH: uonms PETERS cu. wmmuu, WASHMETDN. u. c.

.No. 744,141; Y PATENTED NOV.17v,19( )3.

- W. N. WHITBLY.

MOWING MACHINE. APPLIOATIUN FILED AUG. 30, 1902.

R0 MODEL. 4 sHnnTs -sinn'r g um v No. 744,141. 7 PATENTED NOV. 17, 1903.w. N. WHITELY. v

' MOWING MACHINE.

7 APPLICATION I'ILED AUG. 3.0. 1902.

no MODEL.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ms PETERS co. WTO-UTHO. wnsuluotou. u. r.

Fatented Nbvember 17, 19055.

PATENT Frrcn.

WILLIAM N. wnrrEnY, or SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

MOWING-VMACHI'NE.

:SPEGLFIGATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 744,141, dated November17, 1903.

Application ma August 30.1 02. seatin 121,619. (No model.)

To on whom it may concern.-

. Be it known that I, VVILLIAM N. W HITELY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing-at No. 153 East High street, Springfield, in the countyof Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovementsin Mowing-Machines; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and

to the figures of reference. marked thereon,

which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements upon mowing-machines of thefront-cut twowheeled hinged-bar type having a main or primary frame towhich the tongue and seatsupport are rigidly attached and a secondaryframe pivotally connected to the main or primary frame and to which thefinger-bar is hinge-connected.

The object of my invention is to pivotally mount the lifting-lever forthe finger-bar on this secondary frame and connect said lift-' ing-levcrwith the shoe of the finger-bar by a pi ,votal'connection further, toprovide alocking device for said lifting-lever on said secondary'frameto lock the lever when the finger-bar is raised from the ground and tohold the finger-bar in any desired elevated position wholly independentof the main or pricated wholly upon said secondary frame. I

many frame; also, to provide a spring to assist the operator in liftingsaid finger-bar andconnect said spring with said lifting-lever on thesecondary frame. This spring may be lofurther provide a manual andautomatic gear disengaging and engaging mechanism for stopping andstarting the movement of the cutters when the finger-v bar is raised andlowered. upon the secondary frame and partly upon the main. or primaryframe and is pivotally connected together near the pivotal connection ofthe secondary frame to the main or primary frame on its grassward side.The

' lifting-lever for the finger-bar and its con- This mechanism islocated partly vertically, when desired, by its lifting-lever mounted onthe secondary frame. I further provide for the easement of the secondaryframe from the ground by means of a spring interposed between the mainor primary frame and the secondary frame. I also provide a foot or handlever located on the main or primary frame and connect same to thesecondary frame by a link connection. A lockin g device for said leveris also provided, so that when the secondary frame and lifting-levermounted thereon and the inner end of the finger-bar are raised from theground they may be locked in their raised position.

While the above are my main improvements, there are other novel andimportant features, which will more fully appear by reference to thedrawings and specification of this application. I

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which-'- Figure 1 is a plan view of a mowing machine of thetype described embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a plan view of aportion of a mowing-machine of the type described, the main or primaryframe being partly broken away, so as to show the diago-' ing thepivotal support of the shoe of the finger-bar to the secondary frame,the lift-lever, lift-lever stand, and the assisting-spring, also showsthe manner of mounting these parts on the secondary frame independentlyof the mainorprimary frame. The gear-disengaging mechanism mounted onthe secondary frame is also partially shown in this figure. Fig. 4 is aportion of vthe main or-primary frame, showing the connection of thebrace 15, also the recess 16 for the draft-tongue. Fig. 5 shows thearrangement of the driving-gearing and driving-shafts for the cutters,also the geardisenga-ging mechanism. Fig. 6 is a view taken on the linesto "w of Fig. 3, showing the lift-lever, lift-lever socket, andlift-level stand, together with parts of the gear-disengaging mechanism.Fig. 7 is .a top and side view taken on the lines -2 z of Fig. 5,showing the spring interposed between the main or primary and secondaryframes to assist the ICO foot-lever and to help carry the secondaryframe and the parts mounted thereon lightly over the ground. Fig.8 is apartially sectional view on the lines y y of Fig. 5, showing the pivotalconnection of the secondary frame to the main or primary frame on thegrassward side of the main or primary frame. Fig. 9 is a plan View ofthe secondary frame, the dotted line indicating the axis of its pivotalconnection with the main or primary frame. Fig. 10 is a plan view of theshoe of the finger-bar and the manner of pivotally connecting same tothe secondary frame. Fig. 11 is a detail view of the support for theassisting-spring and gear-disengaging devices mounted on the secondaryframe. Fig. 12 is a detail sectional view on the lines o o of Fig. 11,showing part of the gear-disengaging mechanism, also the rock-shaft 35.a detail View of a part of the gear-disengaging mechanism, showing thepivoted tongueof the lift-lever socket engaging the toe of therock-shaft for the purpose of disengaging the driving-gearing for thecutters. Fig. 14 is a side View of the foot-lever mechanism pivotallymounted on the main or primary frame for lifting the inner end of thefinger-bar and secondary frame, shown in plan in Fig. 1, also thelocking device for the foot lever. Fig. 15 is a front view of amowing-machine embodying my improvements, the heavy lines show ing thefinger-bar in a semi-elevated position, at which point thedrivinggearing for the cutters is positively disengaged by the downwardmovement of the lifting-lever, the dotted lines showing the verticalposition occupied by the finger-bar when the lifting-lever has beendrawn to its farthest downward position.

Those parts common to all mowerssuch as the seat, the wheels, the knifeand its connection, the finger-bar, swathboard, tilting mechanism, andgearingneed not be particularly described.

The particular devices of my invention and the manner in which I utilizethem for the foregoing purposes will now be described.

Similar figuresreferto similarparts-throughout the several views.

Upon the main or primary frame 1 is mounted the driving-gearing 13 forthe cutters, said gearing having driving connection with. the cutters bymeans of the pitman 12, the gearing 13 being mounted at the end of saidmain or primary frame on the stubbleward side thereof. The secondaryframe, as shown, consis ts of two members, (designated on the drawingsas 2 and 2,) although it may be constructed in one piece, one disposedtransversely to the line of draft, the front member 2 having aball-and-socket or universal diagonal pivotal connection with theforward extension part- 3 of the main or primary frame 1, as shown inFig. 1 at 17. The front member 2 also serves as a protection to thepitman 1 2, the other member 2" of.

said secondary frame projecting rearwardly Fig. 13 is and pivotallyconnected with the main or primary frame 1 at the grassward side of saidframe by means of the joint 14:, pivotally connected diagonally to theframe 1 by the pin 26. The front member 2 of said secondary frame hasconnection with a lever 38, mounted on the main or primary frame 1 bymeans of the link 47, the bell-crank 39, and intermediate connecting-rod40 between the bell-crank 39 and lever 38, said bell-crank being mountedupon the stud 43 of the main or primary frame 1, and the lever 38, alsomounted on the stud 44, secured to the main or primary frame 1. Mountedon the stud 52 is the latch 53, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 14, and 15.\"Vhen it is desired to lift the secondary frame and inner end of thefinger-bar from the ground, the le ver 38 is pressed downward, and byits pivotal connections with said secondary frame and finger-bar liftssaid parts from the ground, and when said secondary frame and fingerbarare thus lifted said lever engages the latch 53, which is mounted on themain or primary frame, forming a locking device to lock and hold thesecondary frame and the inner end of the finger-bar in an elevatedposition from the ground. The spring '27 is interposed be- ;tween arearwardly-extending portion 14 of fthe secondary frame member 2 and aninte- 1 gral lug 9 of the main or primary frame and ,is held in positionby means of the pin 49, as shown in Fig. 7. .tains the weight of thesecondary frame and Qthe parts mounted thereon and also assists lto-liftthe secondary frame by means of the lever 38. To therearward]y-projecting member 2 of the secondary frame is pivotally con-;nected the shoe 6 of the finger-bar 10, said This spring partiallysusshoe pivotally connected by integral trunnions 51 51 in brackets 21and 23, rigidly secured to said secondary frame. lever 8 and its partsare pivotally mounted The liftingon the member 2 of the secondary frame,as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, said lifting-lever being rigidly secured tothe socket 7, said socket 7 journally mounted on the stand 19. From theforward endof said socket there extends a link 42, which is pivotallyconnected to the shoe 6 of the finger-bar 10 grassward of the pivotalconnection of said shoe to the secondary frame. A- spring-rod 5 ispivotally connected at its forward end with the socket 7 and issupported by the bracket 18, mounted on the secondary frame. Saidbracket 18 also serves to support the forward end of the rocknor does itexert a greater leverage on the finger-bar when the finger-bar isfollowing a depression than when the finger-bar is pass-' ing over anelevation of the ground, the tension remaining the same no matter howuneven the ground may be over which the machiue travels. To thoseskilled in the art the advantages thus obtained will be apparent.

I will now describe the devices constituting the gear-disengagingmechanism of my invention.

To the lifting-lever socket 7, as shown in Fig. 6, is pivotallyconnected the tongue 33, which, when the finger-bar has been raisedbymeans of the lifting-lever S to the verti-. cally-inclined positionshown in heavy lines in Fig. 15, said tongue 33 engages with the toe 34,which is rigidly secured to the rockshaft 35, Fig. 12, said. rock-shaftbeing journally supported from said secondary frame. As the liftingleverSis drawn downward and as the finger-bar 1O assumes avertically-inclined position, as shown in heavy lines in Fig. 15, saidtongue 33 engages with the toe 34 onsaid rock-shaft 35, causing saidshaft to rotate, turning the crank 36, which is rigidly secured to saidshaft and to which is pivotally connected'the head 32 of the pullrod-31.The movement of the parts as above described results in theshifter-lever 30 moving the clutch 29 from engagement with the gearing13, thus stopping the reciprocation of the cutters. Upon a furtherdownward movement of the lifting-lever 8 the finger-bar 1O assumes avertical position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 15, whereupon theplunger-bolt 45 of the lifting-lever socket 7 engages with thelifting-lever stand 19, and the finger-bar 10 is held and maintained inthe vertical position described and shown by dotted lines in Fig. 15.

I provide a roller 37, secured to the apertured bracket 18, as shown inFig. 12, the obj ect of said roller being to'properly guide said' tongue33 into the aperture in said bracket 18 and to avoid friction of saidtongue 33in its passage into and out of the aperture in said bracket 18and'also to insure the proper engagement of the tongue with the toe 34on said rock-shaft'35;

of the lifting-lever 8 the finger-bar 10 starts downward toward ahorizontal position, and as said finger bar 1O descends and approachesthe position shown in heavy lines in Fig. 15-

Upon the releasing the rock-shaft 35 is released from the action of saidlifting-lever 8 and tongue 33, and the clutch 29" automatically returnsto engagement by means of the spring 41, shifter-lever 30, andclutch-yoke 29;

It will be Observed that while the drivinggear-disengagingmechanism ispartly located on the secondary frame and partly on the main or primaryframe provision is made by swiveling or screw-theading the head 32 onthe pull-rod 31 and-by placing it near the diagonal pivotal hingeconnection of the member 2 of the secondary frame whereby the movementof the secondary frame up and down does not alfect thedriving-gear-disengaging mechanism located on the main or primary framein any position the secondary frame may assume within certain limitsrelative to the main'or primary frame. Thus the driving-gearing for thecutters is disengaged at a predetermined elevation 'of the finger-bar 10whether the secondary frame is raised above or drops below the level ofthe ground. The pull-rod 31 is provided with an adj ustable head 32, soas to adjust the movements of the driving-gear mechanism and stop thereciprocation of the knife when the finger-bar 10 reaches a heightbeyond which it would not be practical for the pitman to reciprocate.The two forward-extendingportions of the main or primary frameareconnected together by means of the brace 15, so as to stiffen andstrengthen said frame.

' The member 2 of the secondary frame is preferably riveted or bolted tothe member 2 of the secondary frame, as shown at in Figs. 2 and 9; butother means of connection 'Of the members of said secondary frame may beemployed that will connect said members together. The shoe 6 of thefinger-bar 10 may be pivotally connected with the secondary frame in anyconvenient way, as the precise manner shown is not made a subject ofclaim cutters, a rearwardly-projecting member of' said secondary framepivotally connected in' rear of said front member to the grassward sideof said main or-primary frame, a hinge connection between said secondaryframe and the inner shoe of the finger-bar, a lifting-1m verfor thefinger-bar pivotally mounted on said secondary frame independent of saidmain or primary frame,'a connection fromsaid lifting-lever to said innershoe of the finger-bar, a lockin g device for said lifting le ver onsaid'secondaryframe to hold the fingerbar in'an elevated position, thefreeend of said secondary frame, and said lifting-lever and finger-barfree to rise and fall independently of said main or primary frame.

2. In a mowing-machine,incombination, a main or primary frame, asecondary frame, a front member of said secondary frame pivoted to thestubbleward side of said main or prim ary frame near the driving-crankfor the cutters, a rearwardly-projecting member of said secondary framepivotally connected in rear of said front member to the grassward sideof said main or primary frame, a hinge connection between said secondaryframe and the inner shoe of the finger-bar, a lifting-lever for thefinger-bar pivotally mounted on said secondary frame independent of saidmain or primary frame, a connection from said lifting-lever to saidfinger-bar, a locking device for said lifting-lever on said secondaryframe to hold the finger-bar in an elevated position, the free end ofsaid secondary frame, liftinglever and finger-bar free to rise and fallindependently of said main or primary frame, an assisting-springpivotally connected with said lifting-lever and connected to saidsecondary frame independent of said main or primary frame to lessen theforce required to lift said finger-bar from the ground.

3. In a mowing-machine, in combination, a main or primary frame, asecondary frame, a front member of said secondary frame pivotallyconnected to said primary frame at the stubbleward side thereof near thedrivingcrank for the cutters, a rearwardly-proj ectin g member of saidsecondary frame pivotally connected to the grassward side of said mainor primary frame in rear of said front member, a hinge connectionbetween said secondary frame and the inner shoe of the finger-bar, alifting lever for the finger bar pivotally mounted on the secondaryframe, a lifting-lever mounted on said main or primary frame, aconnection between said liftin g-lever on said main or primary frame andsaid secondary frame, a lever-locking device on said main or primaryframe to hold said secondary frame and finger-barabove the ground whendesired.

4. In a mowing-machine, in combination, a main or primary frame, asecondary frame, a front member of said secondary frame pivotallyconnected to said primary frame at the stubbleward side thereof near thedrivingcrank for the cutters, a rearwardly-projecting member of saidsecondary frame pivotally connected to the grassward side of said mainor primary frame in rear of said front member, a hinge connectionbetween said secondary frame and the inner shoe of the finger-bar, alifting-lever for the finger-bar pivotally mounted on said secondaryframe independent of said main or primary frame, a liftinglever mountedon said main or prim ary frame, a pivotal connectionbetween saidlifting-lever mounted on said main or primary frame and said secondaryframe, a lever-locking device coacting with said lifting-lever on saidprimary frame to hold said secondary frame and finger-bar above theground when desired, a spring located between said frames acting on thesecondary frame to transmit a portion of its weight onto the main orprimary frame to lessen the force required to lift said secondary frameand inner shoe of the finger-bar from the ground.

5. In a mowing-machine, in combination, a main or primary frame, adraft-tongue and seat-support rigidly connected thereto, a secondaryframe pivotally connected at one end to the stubbleward side of saidmain or primary frame, and at its other end pivotally connected to saidmain or primary frame in rear of said first-mentioned connection of thesecondary and primary frames, a lifting-lever pivotally mounted on saidsecondary frame, a shoe of the finger-bar pivotally connected with saidsecondary frame, a connection between said lifting-lever and said shoeof the fingerbar, an automatic gear-clutch engaging mechanism located onsaid main or primary frame, a gear-disengaging mechanism located on saidsecondary frame and connecting with said lifting-lever, a connectingmechanism between said gear disengaging and gearengaging mechanismwhereby upon the moving of the lifting-lever to raise the outer end ofthe finger-bar from its down position, the gear-clutch is disengaged andis automatically rengaged at a suitable cutting position of the cuttersas the lifting-lever returns the finger-bar to its normal position.

6. In a mowingmachine of the type described, in combination, a main orprimary frame, a secondary frame pivotally connected at one end to thestubbleward side of said main or primary frame, the other end of saidframe pivotally connected to said main or primary frame at the grasswardside in rear of said firstmentioned connection to said main or primaryframe, a draft-tongue and seat-support rigidly connected to said main orprimary frame, a gear engaging and disengaging mechanism located partlyon said main or primary frame and partly on said secondary frame, apivotal connection between said gear engaging and disengaging parts ator near the rearward pivotal connection of said main or primary andsecondary frames to maintain the proper Working of the parts in all ofthe upand-down movements of said secondary frame and finger-bar.

7. In a mowing-machine, in combination, a main or primary frame, acrankshaft supported therein, a secondary frame consisting of twomembers, one member thereof pivoted to the stubbleward side of said mainor primary frame near the forward end of said crank-shaft for thecutters, another member thereof projecting rearwardly from said firstmember and pivotally connected to said main or primary frame near themain axle, a liftinglever pivotally mounted on said last -named memberof said secondary frame, a finger-bar,

IIO

an inner shoe of said finger-bar hinge-conbar, counterbalances theweight of said finnected to said secondary frame, a connection get-bar.10 between said inner shoe and said Jifting-lever, In testimony whereofI affix my signature an assisting-spring pivotally attached to said inpresence of two witnesses.

5 lifting-lever and mounted on said secondary WILLIAM N. WHITELY. frame,whereby said assisting-spring, through WVitnesses the direct medium ofsaid connection between JOHN L. GILLIGAN,

said lifting-lever and said shoe of said finger- ROBERT WEISKOTTEN.

